Retarder for circuit breakers



1,646,528 Oct 25 1927 c. N. FAIRCHILD RETABDER FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Oct. -25, 1927. 1,646,528

c. N. FAIRCHILD RETARDER FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed Nov. 17. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 l and the ignition is on or CHARLESiN. FAIB'CHILD, 0F MILFRDLCONNECTIQUT, ASSIGNOR T0 .'EIRGHIL'D :L903 CORPORATION, 0F NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWME.

BETARDER FOR CIRCUIT ffia Application filed November 17, 1924. Serial No. 250,481. f

by shutting olf the ignition currentI with a ,consequent stopping of the motor and then without withdrawing the key from the lock, returning the lock to running position with `the result that while the motor is stopped closed, the car is unlocked.

Other objects ofthe invention 'lie in Specific details hereinafterdescribedv and particularly set' forth in the accompanying l5 claims.

lA serious objection to lpresent day coincidental 'locks is the possibility of a driver leaving the car unlocked but with the motor ynot running. iThere is little danger of a driver'leaving his car unlocked with the motor running, for the laws of the various cities and States', take care of this by applying ar-ather heavy penalty. The present invention concerns itself with a device whereby the ignition circuit may` not be opened until the key for locking the automobile is bodily removed from its lock, such lock prefera-bly being a coincidental lock, i. e., one in which there is simultaneous operation of the ignition circuit and of the automobile lock,

the latter preferably of the steeringv post type. v

In the drawings: V

Figure 1y is a top plan view, partly in sec` tion looking directly down the axis ofthe steering post. l

Figure 2 1s a side elevation.-

`Figure '3 1s a section through .the rock shaft.

its protective casing.

For` convenience 1n illustrating the invention I 4have shownit in connection with a vspecific form of coincidental lock but I wish v it understood that the invention is a basic Figure 1li is a side view-of the key, showing 17 fast on the head 18 ofthe locking bolt 20 the latter engaging the steering post 21 and preferably, though not necessarily, the quadrant tube 22 as Well.

The head 18 slides freely with respect to the axis of the steering post in the cylindrical bore 25 of a hollow plug 26 inserted through the top of the housing and held in place. therein by a pin 28. A spring 30 is held between the head 18 of the locking bolt and the vinsulating cover 31 of` the plug, the latter beingy centrally perforated to provide a bearing for the stem 32 of the ignition circuit contact making-and breaking mech anism. This stein 32 is provided with a y insulating material and is secured to the v main housing 27.

The operation of the lock so far described is as follows: With they parts in the position ,I

shown in the figures, that is in locked posiplaces the kev 39 in the lock 1,2 and turns the cylinder thereof, in a clockwise direction. This raises the bolt 20 by means of the pin 17 so as to clear the steering post. When the steering post' is entirely free, but not until then. the head 18 of the bolt engages the head 33 of the stem. Further operatlon of the key causes the spring` 34 to he compressed and causes the metal contact or cu 35 to rise into engagement with the spac tion, the driver wishes to start the car. I-Ie contacts 42 thus bridging the gap in the ignition circuit and closingI the ignition circuit."

As vcustomary the key cannot beremoved from the lock whilein this position, i. e.,

,ordinary normal running position. v'To look the car the key is turned in reverse direction,

the rst action being that the ignition cir- 'cuit is broken-and the .second action being to lock the carl Now the' objection to this,y is

loo

that the driver. if he so wil1s,'m ay at this y time after allowing the engine to stop, throw "the lock back to unlocked position and while and is positively held in such position untilA the key is removed from the lock after locking the. automobile. The mechanism` by which thisr is accomplished is as follows: small casing 52 is secured to the main housing 27 by means of the screws 53 or similar fastenings and receives *longitudinally a rock shaft, 55 provided with a iround collar 54 to prevent its lateral movement in a direction to the left as seen in Figure 3. This 4Q is received in a slot 68 in the rock arm an shaft 55 has a square extension 56 on which` is `loosely mounted the lever `57 which has a slottedpivotal connection with 'the stop rod 50.

Due to the different sizes of the square hole in the lever 57 of the square section 56 of the rock shaft 55, the lever 57 has a considerable play on the rock shaft whichlost. motion is taken up by a spring 58 secured at one end to the lever and at the other end to acap 60 fast on the shaft and serving to position the lever 57 against the collar 54. A rock arm 62 is also fast on the rock shaft 55 andI carries a toe 63 to engage the key in running position. The casing 52 is provided with a bore 65 to receive a spring 66 serving to urge the rock shaft 55 into position to `withdraw the stop rod 50 when the rock arm 62 is in the position it occupies when in running position.

A pin 67 fast with respect to the housing thereby limits movement of the shaft 55. The rock arm is moved about its pivot, the axis of rock shaft 55, by means of the linger piece 68 when itis desired to movey the key to locking position. When in lockedposition a cor-ner 69 of the arm engages the .key

and the rock "arm is thus prevented from moving into position to turn the lever 57 to When however, the key is entirely withdrawn from the lock, the finger piece 68 is free to move to the right to the end of its travel as seen in Figure l and in this posif tion the square portion of the shaft engages the square hole in the lever 57 and with# draws the stop rod 50 from beneath the disk 40 thereby permittingI the cup contact 35 to break the ignition circuit.

In normal operation of the automobile. the driver finds his vehicle with the ignition circuit ofi", the steering post locked and the rock arm 62 in position to obstruct the key hole. The finger piece 68 is first moved to position to free the hole, the key then into locking position.

'and 'will not break the ignition for an extent that would retract thestop rod*L thumb of the .left hand while the key 1s turned counter-clockwise by the right hand Such movement of the. lock cylinder may however only lock the foar the cup contact member 35 is held against movement under the urge of its spring .34 by means of the stop rod and this in turn is held against the urge of its spring 58 by the positive engagement of the lever 57 with the rock shaft 55. 'L Y Withdrawal. of the stop rod 50 can only be accomplished by outward movement of the top o lever 57 and this in turn is precause the presence in the keyhole of even the tip of the key will prevent. the rock arm 62 from com leting its' upward movement. When the Vey. is entirely withdrawn, how ever, the' rock arm under tension ofr its spring 66 moves to the upward limit of its travel and the rockI hat 55 moves to withdraw the stop rod 50 and thereupon they spring 34 urges the head 33 downward toward the head of the bolt thus breaking` the ignition circuit.

A'vented while the key stays in the lock bey It will be understood that when the steer- .195

ing post is unlocked and the stem 36 is raised by contact of the head 18 of the bolt,

the spring 58 vwill shoot the stop rodv 50 under the disk 40 as soon asv it is raised since there is suiiicient play between the lever `57 and the rock shaft to permit this action.

While it is stated that it is convenient to use both hands in unlocking the car this is not at all essential as by holding the key between the thumb and the second or third fingers and using the index finger on the finger piece 68 the car may be readily locked with one hand. In unlocking,y one hand is all that is ever needed as the finger piece 68 is held down w'th the index finger while the lever' is moved ltoward it by ythe thumb.

What I claim is: l p ,1. The combination with'ya. coincidental lock of the type in which the locking of the car breaks tie ignition circuit and the unlocking .of the car closes the ignition circuit., of means for delaying the'breaking of the ignition circuit. until the lock operating means is withdrawn from the lock.

2. The combination with a.` coincidental lock of the t pe in which the locking of the car breaks tne ignition circuit and the unlocking of the car closes the ignition circuit, means for delaying the breaking of the ignition circuit until the lock operating means is withdrawn from the lock,said means including a rod movable into the path of the make-and-break mechanism,v and a bellcrank lever controlling said rod.

3. The combination4 with a. coincidental lock of the type in which the locking of the car breaks the ignition circuit and the urilocking of the car closes the ignition circuit, means for `delaying the breaking of the ignition circuit until the lock operating means is withdrawn from the` lock, said means including a rod movable into the path ofthe make-and-break mechanism, and laV bell-crank lever controlling said rod, the two arms oi said bell-crank lever being relatively' movable.

(ill

Il. The combination with a coincidental lock of the t -e in which the lockingof the car breaks tie ignition circuit and the unlocking of the car closes the ignition circuit, means for delaying the breaking Aof the ignition circuit until the lock operating means is withdrawn from Vthe lock, said means including a rod movable `into the path of the make-and-break mechanism, and a bell-crank `vlever controlling said rod, the two arms of said bell-crank lever being relatively movable, one of said arms being limitedl in its movement by the presence of the key in the lock.

\ 5. The combination with a coincidental lock of the type in -which the locking of the ,car breaks the ignition circuit and the un locking of the car'closes the ignition circuit, means for delaying the breaking ofthe ignition circuit until the lock operating means is withdrawn from the lock, said means including a rod movable into the path of the y make-and-break mechanism, and a bellcrankv lever controlling said rod, the two arms of said bell-crank lever being relatively movable, one of said arms being limited in its movement by the presencev of the key 'in the lock, said arm preventing rotation of the key in ,the lock at all times until manually operated, thereby preventing unintentional locking or unlocking of the car.

6. In, a.. steering post lock, a bolt, a keycontroll'ed cylinder lock for withdrawing said bolt, a contact adapted ,to close the ignition circuit to the motor, resilient means' yieldingly holding said contact in the path of said bolt when moving to unlocking position whereby when said bolt is withdrawn by said lock said contact will close the ignition circuit, and means movable into the path of said contact to prevent said resilient means causing said Contact to follow said bolt to `break the igpition circuit when said bolt is moved to'loc ing osition.l

7. In a steering post ock, a bolt, a keycontrolled cylinder lock` for withdrawing said bolt, a contact adapted to close the ignition circuit to the motor, resilient meansyieldingly holding said contact in the path of said boltwhen moving tounlocking position whereby when said bolt is. withdrawn by said lockv said contact will close the ignition circuit, and .means movable into the ath of saidv contact to prevent said resi ient means causing said contact to follow said bolt to break the ignitionl circuit when said Ibolt is moved to locking position, and keyL controlled means for witlldrawin said last. mentioned vmeans from the pat of said contact. l 'l 8. In a steering post lock, a bolt, a keycontrolled cylinder lock forwithdrawing said bolt, a contact adapted to close the ignition circuitto the motor, resilient meansl yieldingly holding said contact in the path vof said bolt when moving 'to unlocking position whereby when said bolt is withdrawn by said lock said contact will close the-ignition circuit, and means movable into the path of said contact to prevent said resilient means causing said 'contact tofollow bolt to break they ignition circuit when said bolt is moved to locking position, and key controlled means for withdrawing said last mentioned -means from the path of said contact, said key controlled means including a manually controlled lever normally lying' said 9. In combination, a steering post, means l adaptedvto prevent vsaid post ,from turning, a key operated lock for moving said means from ,post locking position, means' movable into" position to close Lthe key-slot of said lock, and an ignition circuit make-andbreak mechanism which is operated to closev said circuit by said first mentioned means. l

10. In an automobile locking device, the combination of a key operated mechanism causing the unlocking of an automobile and the closing of theignition circuit, and means controlled yby the-presence or Vabsence of the key in its keyhole controlling the opening ofthe ignitioncircuit.

l1. In combination, a bolt, a stern movable in the path of said bolt, acircuit makeand-break' mechanismv carried in part by said stem, means for limitingythe movement of said stem independently of said bolt, a key controlled device for retracting said bolt and means set in'motion by thewithdrawal of said key from said device for rendering said first mentioned means inoperative to limit movement offsaid stem.

y, 12. In combination, a steering post and movable to bridge said gap to complete the ignition circuit, means controlled by said lock for simultaneously locking said post to said casing and formoving sald member to bridging position, means to move said member to position vto open said gap, and means controlled by the presence of said key in said lock for holding said last mentioned means from acting until. said key is removed from its position in said lock.

18. ln combination, a member havin angular movement, a bolt for locking sai member against such movement, an electric circuit make-and-break' mechanism, means for simultaneously moving said bolt to unlocking position and moving said mechaL nism to make position to close its circuit and an additional means for Withholding `movement oi. said mechanism to break position. to open said circuit until after movement of the bolt to locking position.

d4. In combination, a member having angular movement, a bolt for locking Sai member against such movement, an electric circuit make-and-break mechanism, means 'for simultaneously moving said bolt to unlocking position .and moving said mechanism to make position to close its circuit, and for moving said bolt to locking position, and an additional means forpreventing movement of said mechanism to break position to open said circuit, said bolt-moving-means yconsisting of a lock and a key therefor, and saidadditional means being controlled by the removal oi said key from said lock.

15. .In a device of the character described,

a spr1ng-pressed bolt, 'an ignition svvitchfa key operated lockformoving said bolt, and p means connecting the lock andsvvitch so that the key cannot be Withdrawn from the lock Without automatically operating the switch to break the ignition` circuit.

i6. in combination, a steering post, a key operated means to prevent said post from turning, means movable into position to prevent entry oi said key in its key hole, and an ignition circuit make and break mechanism, means connecting both of said means with said mechanism so that the ignition circuit make and break mechanism is operated to close the circuit by movement Yof said key operated means and is moved to open said circuit by said key hole closing means.

.17. The combination withl a housing, a key operated member movable Within said housingto lock a body With respect to said housing, and an electric circuit make and break mechanism connected tosaid member so that said mechanism is moved in one Leccese l the Withdrawal of thebolt closes the ignition circuit and prevents `Withdrawal of the key While the bolt remains Withdrawn.

y19. The device of: claim 18 including a member which prevents the switch from moving to circuit opening position upon movement of the bolt to locked position, until the key is Withdrawn `from the lock.

20. The combination With a sliding bolt steering post lock of the key operated coin. cidental type in which the ignition circuit' is broken substantially' simultaneously with the movement of the bolt into steering post locking position, and the ignition circuit is closed When the bolt is Withdrawn, of meansy which is barred from completing its motion to break the ignition circuit by the presence or" the key in the lock, ivh'ercby the breaking ot the ignition circuit is delayed until aftery the key is Withdrawn from the lock.-

21. The combination with a key operated coincidental lock of the type in Which the locking of the car 'breaks the ignition circuit and the unlocking of the car closes ythe ignition circuit, of means including a shaft and an arm on said shaft for delaying by reason of the striking of the arm against the key, the breaking of the ignition circuit until the key is Withdrawn from the lock.

'22. In a locking device for an automobile having an ignition circuit and au operative member movable during travel of the auto` mobile, a housing, key operated mechanism within said housing causing the unlocking of said memberand the closing of the igniby the presence of the key in the lock for controlling the openingeof the ignition circuit.

23. in an automobile locking device, the combination with a key. operated mechanism causing the unlocking of a movable part of the automobile and the closing of the ignition circuit, of neans rendered linoperable by the presence of the key in the lock for controlling the opening oi the ignition circuit, whereby theignition circuit can be opened only when the key is out of the lock.

liin testimony vvhereot aiix my signature.

CHARLES N. FAlRCl-HLD.

1,10 tion circuit, and means rendered inoperable 

